Sato quickly recognized the female Team Magma executive standing before him. She was none other than Courtney, the Team Magma scientist he had encountered at Mt. Pyre shortly after arriving in Hoenn.
"It's her. It's been quite a long time."
The moment he recalled the resilience she had displayed inside Darkrai's nightmare domain, Sato immediately became vigilant.
To be honest, the fact that he had escaped from a Team Magma executive whose willpower rivaled his own and whose strength far surpassed his at the time was largely thanks to that Elite-Four level Darkrai that Swampert had knocked away.
Had Darkrai not severely injured the Pokémon under her command, it was difficult to say whether Sato would have gone on to experience everything that followed. He might very well have died somewhere back then, with no future to speak of.
As for the middle-aged man in the white lab coat standing beside Courtney, Sato recognized him as well.
He was Professor Cozmo, the renowned scientist from Fallarbor Town.
Speaking of Professor Cozmo, one inevitably thought of the Mt. Chimney incident and the Pokémon Deoxys from the games. In the games, Professor Cozmo was the one who developed the method of using the power of meteorites from outer space to either trigger or suppress Mt. Chimney's volcanic activity.
At the same time, he possessed the three meteorites capable of allowing Deoxys to freely change forms.
"Judging by Professor Cozmo's frightened appearance, he's clearly been kidnapped by Team Magma. But according to the timeline, he shouldn't have discovered those mysterious meteorites yet. So why would Team Magma abduct him?"
Observing the professor's expressions and body language, Sato quickly concluded that he was indeed being held captive. He then began pondering Team Magma's purpose.
Professor Cozmo was undoubtedly an expert in meteorite research. If Team Magma had kidnapped him, their objective was most likely related to meteorites as well.
The problem was that Sato couldn't think of any connection between Route 112 and meteorites.
If one wanted to search for meteorites, Meteor Falls would be the obvious destination. That place was the most famous meteorite-impact region in all of Hoenn.
"Could there really be a meteorite here? But I've never heard of any impact crater around this area."
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
Eventually, he gave up trying to figure it out and chose to wait and see.
Courtney was extremely anxious.
She knew very well that mobilizing such a large force to search Route 112 couldn't possibly remain hidden from the League's informants. It wouldn't be long before the League organized a response.
Furthermore, they currently had Professor Cozmo—a scientist officially recognized by the League—in their custody. The League would undoubtedly spare no effort to rescue him and might even dispatch Elite-Four level trainers.
Most importantly, they were now very close to Lavaridge Town.
And in Lavaridge Town lived a retired member of Hoenn's Elite Four.
Although age had weakened him somewhat, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. He still possessed his strength.
If that former Hoenn Fire-type Elite Four member, who was famous for despising evil, learned that Team Magma had sealed off Route 112, escaping unscathed would be difficult.
"Hey, did you tamper with the detectors you designed? Why haven't they found anything after all this time? Are you asking to be punished?"
Growing increasingly frustrated, Courtney finally vented her anger on Professor Cozmo.
The moment she finished speaking, the Ninetales beside her used one of its tails to bind the professor, tightening its grip with increasing force.
"Hmph! My wife and son are in your hands. I wouldn't joke with their lives."
"I've already perfectly programmed the wavelength data emitted by the stone you provided into these detectors. As long as it's close enough, they'll definitely find it."
"But the time you gave me was too short, and the materials weren't ideal. Building these detectors was already the limit. If the stone you're looking for really exists here, the detectors will eventually locate it."
"You damned animals... one day you'll— Urgh!"
Although terrified, Professor Cozmo forced himself to stand firm, thinking of his family.
Unfortunately, before he could finish, Ninetales tightened its tail around him.
Immediately, he found it difficult to breathe.
"Hehehe~. Good. Just remember that. Don't try any tricks. If anything goes wrong, I can't guarantee your family's safety."
"And the new Houndour has a particularly bad temper."
A trace of surprise flashed across Courtney's face at the professor's rare display of backbone. But it quickly turned into contempt as she mocked and threatened him.
Hearing her words, Professor Cozmo's reddened face twisted with hatred.
He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and fight her.
Unfortunately, he was merely a scholar with no strength to speak of. Otherwise, Team Magma wouldn't have been able to kidnap his entire family so easily.
Satisfied with his reaction, Courtney concluded that the timid scientist wasn't lying.
She signaled Ninetales to release him.
Once free, Professor Cozmo collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Yet his eyes remained locked on Courtney, filled with undisguised hatred.
Courtney merely sneered and turned away.
"She's every bit as ruthless as before."
Perched in the canopy of a nearby tree, Sato had heard every word of their conversation.
Back at Mt. Pyre, she had used the lives of the Village guards to threaten Marcus, the village chief's son, into obeying her.
Now she was using an entire family to force Professor Cozmo's cooperation.
As a result, Sato's wariness toward her increased even further.
At the same time, he couldn't help becoming interested in the special stone Team Magma was searching for.
Judging from Courtney's behavior, the stone was extremely important.
It might even become a key component in Team Magma's future plans.
Even so, Sato wisely chose not to involve himself. He sympathized with Professor Cozmo and was curious about the stone, but he wasn't suicidal.
He was alone.
How could he possibly take on this entire Team Magma force?
Especially when it included someone as dangerous as Courtney.
Years ago, she had already been a peak pseudo-Elite-Four trainer and had even dared to provoke an Elite-Four level legendary Pokémon.
Her current strength was undoubtedly even greater.
Sato wouldn't have been surprised if she had already reached Elite level.
Thus, he decided to remain hidden.
Once Team Magma left, he would immediately depart and anonymously inform the nearest League police station about Professor Cozmo's family's situation.
Unfortunately, his carefully laid plans were about to fall apart.
"Who's there? Come out right now, or don't blame me for being rude!"
Below the tree, Ninetales suddenly twitched its nose and raised its head.
Noticing this, Courtney's expression changed immediately.
She turned toward the very tree where Sato was hiding and shouted loudly.